STRASBOURG 14 Jul 2009 European Parliament inaugural session begins

Several Members of the European Parliament have proposed a rule change to prevent French far-right parliamentarian Jean-Marie Le Pen from presiding over the inaugural session in July. Under present rules, the oldest MEP opens the first session of the new legislature. At 81 (by July), the French National Front leader is due the honor. The main issues for MEPs in subsequent sittings are the results of June EP election and the decisions, if any, taken by G20 leaders at their London summit in April.

According to the European Observer and BBC, which reported the concerns about Le Pen, an MEP since 1984, the NF leader is all but certain to be re-elected in June. He has described Auschwitz as a "detail of history." The Socialists and Greens proposed the rule change to block him.

The implication of the collapse in March of the Czech government, currently the president of the European Union, is likely to carry over into the July session.

As pressing concerns, the Parliament has listed: financial services, social policy, climate change, European Union enlargement, immigration, terrorism, security, agriculture and, if and when ratified by all Member States, the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty. Mar/09

RELATED READING:

Euro MPs in vote to block Le Pen (BBC 25 Mar 2009)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7963109.stm

MEPs attempt to block Le Pen from becoming parliament 'father' (EU Observer 24 Mar 2009)
http://euobserver.com/9/27843/?rk=1

European Parliament
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/elections2009/default.htm?language=EN